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Show Sports Wildcats preparing for new year FRIDAY MARCH 23 2012 • New coaching staff finalized for season By Corie Holmes sports editor I The Signpost The new coaching staff for Weber State University's football team has been finalized. This past week, new football Head Coach John Smith announced the hiring of Ted Stanley as an assistant football coach to fill the final position on his coach staff roster. Stanley, who will be coaching tight ends at WSU, joins the team after spending the past seasons as head coach at Kenyon College, a Division III school in Ohio. Stanley has also served as the director of football operations at the University of Utah in 1996-97 under former Head Coach Ron McBride. "We are very fortunate to have Ted join us at Weber State," Smith said. "He is a Utah guy and has connections here, but also brings a lot of experience to us that will really help us, particularly experience as a head coach." Many of the athletes said they are excited for the new coaching staff. "The new coaching staff has us fired up and excited for the upcoming season," said Jordan Adamczyk, a quarterback. "Everyone is focused and determined and wanting to work hard to win a national championship next year. Shortly after McBride announced his retirement from WSU football, Smith was announced as the new leader of the Wildcats. Smith has been slowly rebuilding, adjusting and creating a coaching staff that fits to the team and its needs. "I am proud of the new coaching staff we have," said cornerback Robbie Diamond. 'All of the coaches have that winning mentality. I don't really like to lose, and all the coaches we have are good competitors." See Football page 8 Nathan's Notations PHOTO BY BRYAN BUTTERFIELD I THE SIGNPOST Weber State University's football coaches help out players in practice Thursday afternoon. WSU has finalized the coaching staff. The team started spring practices last week. WSU kept the action alive during break Wildcats advance record to 3-1 in Big Sky play Nathan Davis • The Signpost columnist By Kourtney VanDyke correspondent I The Signpost An update on my RSL fandom A few weeks ago, I wrote a column about how I'd decided to give Major League Soccer and Real Salt Lake a try this year. Here's what I've decided so far. I'm hooked. I know it's only two weeks into the season, but I love it already. It didn't take long for me to get to this point. I had watched two RSL preseason games, and I really liked the team and enjoyed watching them play, but what really got me hooked was the first regular season match against the Los Angeles Galaxy. What really stood out to me during the first match was how much the quality of play has improved in MLS. There might be some American soccer fans out there who follow the European leagues and assume that the MLS doesn't have quality players or exciting soccer. If you watch a few matches, you'll learn otherwise. In RSL's games alone, I've seen plenty of attacking play and many goals scored. While the quality isn't up to the level of the elite leagues in Europe, it is still a very exciting and fun league to watch. RSL has a crop of talented players. Before I became a fan, I was aware of Kyle Beckerman, Javi Morales and the other bigSee Notations page 8 The Weber State University men's tennis team started Spring Break with a trip to Club Green Meadows in Portland, Ore. The team played its weekend matchup against Portland State University. The Wildcats are improving with each match and now have a 5-6 overall record and a 3-1 record in the Big Sky Conference. In doubles, the team won two out of three of its matchups. Simon Unger and Oliver Good played against the PSU pair Roman Margoulis and Mitch Somach. "Dominating the match at the beginning is very important for winning," Unger said. "Our match was very well played. I was thrilled about our doubles win PHOTOS BY BRYAN BUTTERFIELD I THE SIGNPOST Above: Weber State University's Simon Unger serves the ball in a game earlier this season. Left: Oliver Good hits the ball. Unger and Good won their doubles match, and each won their single matches in the games the team played over Spring Break. WSU now has a 5-6 overall record and advanced its Big Sky Conference record to 3-1. and also the team win. This weekend was very beneficial to our team. We played some challenging matches and gained a lot of experience and confidence." The third doubles team consisted of David Hintze and Ryan Garner, tied in all four. They finally got a break as they held out and won 8-5, which gave the team the double point. "All of the doubles teams played very well," Good said. "Each match was a standout in my eyes." Hintze agreed that the doubles victories were crucial to the overall team victory. "Our doubles match was a team match-clincher; we ended up getting the winning point for the See Tennis page 8 |
